Institutional Responsibilities

Administrative organization

• FAQ. What kind of administrative organization works best for ensuring compliance?
• Lab Animal 2017; 46(7). (PDF - 541 KB) What does “reporting to the IACUC” mean for PAM?
• Lab Animal. 2009; 38(4). (PDF - 208 KB) Multiple campuses, one IACUC: how many AVs?
• ILAR News. 1993; 35(3-4):68-70, question #2.
• OLAW Online Seminar: Preparing for Animal Rights Extremist Activities at Your Institution - June 12, 2008

Agricultural animals / livestock

• FAQ. May institutions utilize the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (Ag Guide) if their program includes traditional farm animals?
• Lab Animal. 2019; 48(2). (PDF - 705 KB) All in the barn: who oversees agricultural research animals?
• Lab Animal. 2006; 35(4). (PDF - 85 KB) Conference wet lab: is an IACUC needed?

Animal activism

• FAQ. What are the institution's responsibilities in preparing for targeting by animal rights activists?
• OLAW Online Seminar: Animal Research and Public Support: A 2020 Vision for Strategic Communications and Micro-Messaging - June 11, 2020
• OLAW Online Seminar: Preparing for Animal Rights Extremist Activities at Your Institution - June 12, 2008

Appointment of IACUC

• Lab Animal. 2007; 36(2). (PDF - 74 KB) New CEO, new IACUC?

Compliance

• Lab Animal. 2020; 49(6). (PDF - 746 KB) What's in store for a whistleblower?
• Lab Animal. 2006; 35(10). (PDF - 87 KB) Tackling investigator noncompliance.
• Lab Animal. 2000; 29(5). (PDF) Common Areas of Noncompliance.
• Lab Animal. 1994; 23(8). Compliance at the Institutional Level.
• OLAW webpage: Reporting Noncompliance

Cost

• FAQ. May cost be used as justification for not implementing animal welfare standards?
• Lab Animal 2014; 43(3). (PDF - 192 KB) Rationale for new model development.  

Disaster plans & emergencies

• FAQ. How can institutions and their IACUCs best prepare for a disaster or emergency?
• FAQ. Do awardee institutions need animal facility disaster plans?
• FAQ. How can institutions assure animal welfare when HVAC systems malfunction or fail?
• Laboratory Animal Science Professional 2020; 8(6) (PDF - 798.11 KB). Veterinary Staffing Shortages and Potential Solutions During the COVID-19 Pandemic. This article appeared in the AALAS membership magazine, Laboratory Animal Science Professional, November - December 2020, and is reprinted by permission. 
• Lab Animal. 2017; 46(6) (PDF - 496 KB). Adverse events at research facilities.
• Lab Animal. 2002; 31(8). Disaster Recovery: "Who ya gonna call?”
• PI eAlert. 2010; No. 8 (PDF - 322 KB) How Can I Prepare My Animal-Research Lab for an Earthquake?
• OLAW Online Seminar: Disaster Preparedness and Response - September 26, 2024
• OLAW Online Seminar: Application of the AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals to Biomedical Research - September 26, 2019
• OLAW Online Seminar: Disaster Planning - March 7, 2013
• OLAW Online Seminar: Preparing for Animal Rights Extremist Activities at Your Institution - June 12, 2008
• OLAW webpage: Disaster Preparedness and Response

IO vs. CEO

• FAQ. What is the difference between the Institutional Official and the Chief Executive Officer?
• Contemporary Topics. 1997; 36(2):47-50, question #3.

Occupational health & safety

• FAQ. What is required for an occupational health and safety program?
• Lab Animal 2023; 52(02) (PDF - 583.41 KB) A Word from OLAW: Compliant Cooperation for your Collaboration
• Lab Animal 2022; 51(11). (PDF - 709.5 KB) A Word from OLAW: The Risk of Hazards, Hypothetically
• Lab Animal 2022; 51(09). (PDF - 649.24 KB) A Word from OLAW: You've Been Approved to Wait
• Lab Animal 2022; 51(06). (PDF - 625.16 KB) The Matters of an Occupational Health and Safety Program
• Lab Animal 1995; 24(9). 24-26, question #7.
• OLAW Online Seminar: Building a Research Occupational Health Program - March 12, 2020

Pandemic (COVID-19)

Important: COVID-19 specific text no longer represents current NIH policy. Pandemic information in place prior to the end of the public health emergency is maintained for historical purposes only. Please refer to current guidance and FAQs on disaster preparedness and emergencies.

• Laboratory Animal Science Professional 2020; 8(6) (PDF - 798.11 KB). Veterinary Staffing Shortages and Potential Solutions During the COVID-19 Pandemic. This article appeared in the AALAS membership magazine, Laboratory Animal Science Professional, November - December 2020, and is reprinted by permission. 
• Laboratory Animal Science Professional 2020; 8(4) (PDF - 1.23 MB). Maintaining Compliance in Unprecedented Times: Flexibilities for Compliance with the PHS Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. This article appeared in the AALAS membership magazine, Laboratory Animal Science Professional, July - August 2020, and is reprinted by permission. 
• Lab Animal 2020; 49(05). (PDF - 505 KB). A Word from OLAW: COVID-19 guidance
• OLAW Online Seminar: COVID-19 Pandemic Response Resources and FAQs for Animal Care and Use Programs - April 8, 2020
• OLAW Online Seminar: Pandemic Contingency Planning and Its Impact on Animal Care - March 19, 2020

Performance standards

• FAQ. What is OLAW's position on performance standards?
• FAQ. May performance standards determine housing issues?
• FAQ. May performance standards determine environmental enrichment issues?
• Lab Animal. 2022; 51(2). (PDF - 896.03 KB) When is a House a Home?
• OLAW Online Seminar: Performance Standards - April 19, 2012

Post-approval monitoring

• FAQ. Is post approval monitoring required?
• Lab Animal 2022; 51(3). (PDF - 846.59 KB) A Word from OLAW: Renewed Responsibility
• Lab Animal 2021; 50(11). (PDF - 703 KB) Documentation on personnel training.
• Lab Animal 2019; 48(11). (PDF - 659 KB) Cardiac surgeon wanted: mouse experience required?
• Lab Animal 2018; 47(02). (PDF - 547 KB) How should the IACUC handle unanticipated deaths?
• Lab Animal 2017; 46(7). (PDF - 541 KB) What does “reporting to the IACUC” mean for PAM?
• Lab Animal 2016; 45(10). (PDF - 968 KB) How should an IACUC handle high mortality rates?
• Contemporary Topics. 1996; 35(5). Model for Performing Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee: Continuing Review of Animal Research.

Training of staff

• FAQ. What kind of training is necessary to comply with the PHS Policy and how frequently should it be provided?
• Lab Animal 2023; 52(05) (PDF - 779.49 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA: Customer Inconvenience for Regulatory Convenience
• Lab Animal 2021; 50(11). (PDF - 703 KB) Documentation on personnel training.
• Laboratory Animal Science Professional 2020; 8(6) (PDF - 798.11 KB). Veterinary Staffing Shortages and Potential Solutions During the COVID-19 Pandemic. This article appeared in the AALAS membership magazine, Laboratory Animal Science Professional, November - December 2020, and is reprinted by permission.
• Lab Animal 2019; 48(11). (PDF - 659 KB) Cardiac surgeon wanted: mouse experience required?
• Lab Animal 2016; 45(10). (PDF - 968 KB) How should an IACUC handle high mortality rates?
• Lab Animal. 2010; 39(8). (PDF - 170 KB) Noncompliance in survival surgery technique.
• Lab Animal. 1995; 24(9):24-26, question #3.
• OLAW Online Seminar: Superstar Rats Teach Empathy to Researchers - March 21, 2019
• OLAW Online Seminar: Training Issues - June 20, 2013